<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUs0dgW2TO8zN8kdmQyw4tQ-Qx95YpV2U_hsbXcgQRnnOjpMD6fPngwdymNSgD_2UBRvW81s0ux2iLQYYDEu7nahWlDjPAHKgSo_RrFyRnGFi55HggMP656KgmMKicT-khk2e_IYVpRvZGzTfSrR0wJwqDOts_ho0dn7zgBNXSp9c9uubmj-cH8L0HIo/s2200/display_image-php-2__largepreview__.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2200" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUs0dgW2TO8zN8kdmQyw4tQ-Qx95YpV2U_hsbXcgQRnnOjpMD6fPngwdymNSgD_2UBRvW81s0ux2iLQYYDEu7nahWlDjPAHKgSo_RrFyRnGFi55HggMP656KgmMKicT-khk2e_IYVpRvZGzTfSrR0wJwqDOts_ho0dn7zgBNXSp9c9uubmj-cH8L0HIo/s320/display_image-php-2__largepreview__.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif;">After fasting for 40 days and nights&nbsp;</span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in the wilderness,&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif;">Jesus is tempted by the devil.&nbsp; (Matthew 4:1-11)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Is this time in the wilderness a test or a trial?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(... and what might the difference be?)</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A test is something that assesses what we've learned and whether we are ready to advanced to the next stage.</li><li>A trial is something that is designed to teach us what is necessary for the next stage.</li></ul><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pastor Rob reflects on how understanding this wilderness temptation as a trial can help us do two things:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">First, it can deepen our appreciation of fasting as preparation for the trials of life.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Second, it can deepen our connection to Jesus as one who prays with us during the trials of life.<br style="border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The artwork is&nbsp;<span style="border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Christ in the Desert by Vasily Polenov, 1909</span></p>